Roseanne': Where Are They Now?
'Roseanne' broke the mold of the traditional family sitcom. The Conners, headed by a brash matriarch, were an unglamorous blue-collar family in small-town Illinois. The nine-season series (1988-1997) mixed comedy with the heavy issues of domestic violence, homosexuality, unemployment, teen sex, abortion and alcoholism.
Its final season was a disappointment (winning the lottery?), made more strange in the series finale when it was revealed that the various plot twists were part of Roseanne Conner's fictionalized writings about her family.
However, the series ranked in the top four of the nation's most-watched shows for most of its tenure, won four Emmys, three Golden Globes and a Peabody Award and served as a launching pad for John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, George Clooney, Sarah Chalke and Roseanne herself. -- By Aimee Deeken
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Roseanne Barr
Played: Roseanne Conner
Then: Roseanne won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and five People's Choice awards for her role as the domineering, caustic mom who parented with heavy doses of sarcasm. The character was an extension of her 1980s stand-up comedy routine in which the "domestic goddess" addressed issues of weight, housewives and working-class America -- topics based on the dysfunctional family in which she grew up.
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Roseanne Barr
Played: Roseanne Conner
Now: The never controversy-shy comic (screeching through the "Star Spangled Banner") returned to stand-up with a European tour, an HBO special ('Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin'') and a headlining stint in Vegas. She recently posed as a mustachioed homemaker Hitler (baking "Jew cookies") for edgy Jewish magazine Heeb. On her blog, she's waxed controversial about Arabs, Kabbalah, Britney Spears and Angelina Jolie. At the other extreme, the Jewish grandma recorded original songs for a children's DVD. Next up, Roseanne will be one of the comedians for Showtime's 2010 series 'Behind the Green Door.' She's been married and divorced three times (see: Tom Arnold) and has five children.
Valerie Macon, Getty Images
John Goodman
Played: Dan Conner
Then: Goodman was already well known on Broadway and had starred in 'The Big Easy' and the Coen brothers' 'Raising Arizona'; but 'Roseanne' made his career. When he was cast as the working-class Everyman, Roseanne said she had a "big crush on him from the start." But by the penultimate season, their working relationship had frayed and Goodman walked off the set at one point and returned only at producers' urging. Still, the actor won a Golden Globe and earned seven Emmy nominations for his realistic, humor-infused portrayal of a patriarch struggling to pay the bills and maintain marriage and family.
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John Goodman
Played: Dan Conner
Now: The renowned actor's prolific career boasts an eclectic range: Coen brothers' films ('The Big Lebowski' and 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'), 'The Babe,' 'King Ralph,' 'The Flintstones,' Martin Scorsese's 'Bringing Out the Dead,' 'Beyond the Sea,' 'Speed Racer' and 'Confessions of a Shopaholic.' He's lent his voice to animated TV and the movies 'Cars,' 'Bee Movie,' this month's 'The Princess and the Frog' and most famously 'Monsters, Inc.', in which he and co-star Billy Crystal sang an Oscar-winning song. He had a successful run on 'The West Wing,' an Emmy nod for a 'Studio 60' guest spot and has hosted 'SNL' 13 times. Last summer he starred in Broadway's 'Waiting for Godot' revival, and off screen, the New Orleans resident has lent much support to the city's recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Florian Seefried, Getty Images
Laurie Metcalf
Played: Jackie Harris
Then: Metcalf was a charter member of Chicago's groundbreaking Steppenwolf Theatre troupe, and as Roseanne's neurotic little sis, she had many jobs (police officer, truck driver, diner co-owner) and many relationships. The latter allowed the series to confront domestic violence, divorce and single parenting. In the series finale, when we learn that much of the last season was the fictional writing of the Roseanne character, it was revealed that Jackie was a lesbian all along. One sign of good acting: Jackie's abusive boyfriend Fisher, played by Matt Roth, became Metcalf's real-life husband.
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Laurie Metcalf
Played: Jackie Harris
Now: Metcalf won three Emmys for 'Roseanne,' and on the big screen she had roles in such diverse films as 'JFK,' 'Leaving Las Vegas' and 'Scream 2,' but is probably best known as Andy's mom in 'Toy Story.' After the series, she starred in TV's 'The Norm Show,' had a fun story arc on 'Desperate Housewives' in '06 alongside hubby Roth and currently plays Sheldon's mom on 'The Big Bang Theory' (which stars fellow 'Roseanne' alum Johnny Galecki). Metcalf currently stars in Broadway's revival of Neil Simon's 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' and will voice Andy's mom in 'Toy Story 3.' She, Roth and their two children live on a farm in Idaho.
Janette Pellegrini, Getty Images
Alicia "Lecy" Goranson
Played: Becky Conner
Then: Becky was the eldest daughter, an overachieving but rebellious teen who had no patience for her younger siblings, especially Darlene. She and her biker boyfriend Mark eloped and left for Minneapolis, but eventually moved back to Lanford -- first with the Conners, then into a nearby trailer. Goranson had the role for the first four seasons, was "in Minneapolis" in season 5 (while attending Vassar College), and played Becky again in season 8.
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Alicia "Lecy" Goranson
Played: Becky Conner
Now: The Brooklyn resident has appeared on 'Law & Order: SVU,' 'Sex and the City' and 'Fringe.' Small film roles include 'How to Make an American Quilt' and 'Boys Don't Cry' in which she also sings on the soundtrack. You'll next see her on the big screen in the 2010 comedy 'The Extra Man,' with Katie Holmes, John C. Reilly and Kevin Kline.
Todd Williamson, Getty Images for TV Land
Sara Gilbert
Played: Darlene Conner
Then: Tomboy Darlene's strong will and sarcasm matched Roseanne's acerbic wit. Darlene left her working-class roots to attend art school in Chicago (while Gilbert attended Yale in real life, sometimes shooting scenes on a New York soundstage). Darlene was romantically attached to David (Johnny Galecki) -- Becky's boyfriend's little brother -- for much of the series, apart from a brief fling with Jimmy ('That '70s Show''s Danny Masterson). She and David eventually married and had a son in the series finale.
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Reader Comments (177)
ams at 2:04PM on Nov 8th 2009
I though the Halloween eoisode of Roseanne were some of the best. Will they ever be aired? I missed them this Halloween.
dlgraffius at 3:42PM on Nov 9th 2009
Roseanne repeats are constantly on in the evenings on Nick at Night
and TVLand. They both showed numerous Halloween episodes during
Halloween this year.
SCOTT at 7:18AM on Nov 15th 2009
i do agree, the halloween episodes on roseann were funny and great...if they do not sir them on tv, may i suggest just buying the entire roseann dvd collection for your self, this way you get watch over and over and over !
Brandy at 8:50AM on Nov 15th 2009
I was able to see the halloween episodes on(i think) nickelodeon. And yes they were the best.
Rosalie at 8:57AM on Nov 15th 2009
I loved Roseanne. It was my number 1 sitcom. I would tape all the older episodes. I do like the older ones that you can see on Nick at night and TV land.The newer ones I didnt care for to much.What I would love to see s a special with the cast of Roseanne as they are today.
If the Brady Bunch could do it, well then Roseanne can definitely do it. 2 Thumbs up Roseanne
Susan at 9:21AM on Nov 15th 2009
"Roseanne" Halloween episodes did air around and on Halloween. I saw them. They were on either TVLand or USA Network, I think.
Kathy at 9:57AM on Nov 15th 2009
I actually saw the Halloween one's on the day before Halloween. The re-runs, run for hours here in California on Direct TV's channel 304 and also on another channel. They were done really well. They start anywhere from 9or 10 pm and go one after the other each night for a few hours, its great!! Great show.
sarah at 2:13PM on Nov 15th 2009
they play reruns on nick at nite and tv land
bill at 12:39PM on Nov 15th 2009
almost all day, gosh i seemed every time i put on a channel it was Roseanne in a costume.!! Funny
Mama24 at 1:14PM on Nov 15th 2009
They just aired all of them in order on Halloween, we watched them all.